Pan-Fried Catfish with Cajun Cornbread and Spicy Remoulade

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-23 · Updated 2026-05-23

Golden pan-fried catfish filets paired with moist Cajun-spiced cornbread and a zesty remoulade sauce for a Southern-inspired seafood feast. This American-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 50 minutes, pairs catfish filets, cornmeal, all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 (6 oz each) catfish filets
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 4 tbsp, divided unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp cajun seasoning
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1, minced garlic clove
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. In a bowl, whisk 1 cup cornmeal, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp baking powder, and 2 tbsp sugar. In another bowl, beat 1 large egg with 1 cup buttermilk. Combine wet and dry ingredients, then stir in 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter. Pour batter into a greased 8-inch cast-iron skillet and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
2. Step 2: Meanwhile, season 4 catfish filets with 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil and 2 tbsp unsalted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add catfish and pan-fry for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
3. Step 3: For remoulade, mix 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp Dijon mustard, 1 tsp hot sauce, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 minced garlic clove in a small bowl until smooth and tangy.
4. Step 4: Serve pan-fried catfish hot with sliced Cajun cornbread and a dollop of spicy remoulade sauce on the side.